Hayley, Our Bible Worker, Helps at the Mind, Body and Soul Expo in Melbourne

Here is Hayley's report on a major witnessing activity she helped with recently.

Over these last three months we have been able to see Gods wonderful working power full of many experiences and blessings and I will try and give you a bit of insight into how God is always directing our paths.

In June, on the Kings Birthday long weekend in Melbourne there was a Mind, Body and Soul Expo at the Exhibition and Convention Centre. Francis Branagan, who I join with each week to hand out books outside the State Library in Melbourne, felt impressed to get a booth at this Expo and to sell religious books and give out The Great Controversy.

At first, I wasn’t sold on the idea as these type of Expos definitely have many New Age and spiritual events going on and I didn’t want to be on Satan’s ground. Francis followed his heart and moved forward with his plans. At the time I had family moving interstate and didn’t know if I would even be in Melbourne at this time, so I didn’t think I would be able to help out.

The event started with set up on Thursday, June 6, with the event opening the following day on Friday June 7. Francis organized a well-planned schedule for the event and had many faithful volunteers to help him over the weekend. As it turned out I didn’t go away this weekend. So, on the Friday afternoon I received a phone call from Mark Mason from Acts of Kindness Ministry who was helping Francis at this event. Mark was telling me of how God was really opening doors to people’s hearts and being able to put The Great Controversy in so many people’s hands. Mark asked, if possible, could I join him at the Expo and get among the people and talk to as many as possible. The request was for me to do something I had never done before. I was a bit unsure of what to do as this was way out of my comfort zone.

Before going to the Melbourne Mind, Body and Soul Expo if I had seen a palm reader or card reader, I would normally cross the road and walk on the other side of the street. But when I heard the joy and amazement in Marks voice of how God was working at this event, I was very happy to say I would help.

That Friday night I spent a lot of time in prayer and study in preparing for the Sabbath day and got up extra early to once again spend time with God before venturing into this event. This was something very much out of my comfort zone and I had no idea exactly what to expect or what I was going to say to the people, but I knew that if I spent time in prayer, God would be with me.

Before we went into the Convention Centre we prayed as a group and then we entered the building and went into where our booth was set up. The idea of these Expo’s is you wait at your stand for people to approach you and then give them the opportunity to take a book. We were keen to get the books out to everyone there and not just the people that approached us. So, we began very discreetly speaking to people in the crowd and giving them the opportunity to take a book. There were also lounge areas set up and this gave us further opportunities to sit with people and chat about God and his wonderful love for us.

I am still truly amazed at how God enabled us to go and walk through this place full of stalls full of every evil thing that you could imagine and feel so protected from the things that were going on around us. I can say without a doubt that I felt Gods presence with me and spoke through me that day, as we were giving The Great Controversy to all sorts of people, visiting and conducting stalls involved in every kind of the different types of 'spiritual arts'. I was walking in among all this evil and able to hold very in-depth conversations with these people there, and they were very happy to take the books we were handing out.

Mixed in with other stalls there were other Christian groups selling their products, as this was another Expo they attended. As the day went on, they would venture over to our booth to talk to our group. They also said, 'they could feel the presence of evil all around the building'. However, when they came to our table and spoke to us they said they 'felt the peace of God’s presence around us and felt at ease.'

On the Sabbath at the Expo, we gave books away. On the other days we had the opportunity to sell some literature as well. The Expo was staffed with volunteers until closing on Monday evening the June 10.

Overall, I am still amazed at the people that attended this Expo as they all seem to be searching for something even though they didn’t really know what they were searching for. This is great news for us as their minds aren’t closed to hearing the truth.

This is where The Great Controversy is such an amazing book as it tells of the past, the present, and the future, reaching all sorts of lives. It is our privilege to work getting God's books into peoples hands. This is where the 'silent preacher' takes over and the Holy spirit moves on the people’s hearts.

Please pray for the people that attended this Expo for them to read the books we distributed and find the truth.

I would like to encourage each and every one of you to never give up on your plans. If you feel the Holy Spirit working in your heart keep praying and ask God to help you do His will. Some things might take years to happen. Other things will happen so quickly. It all happens in Gods time.

So, I am very thankful for Francis who followed his heart and made this Expo a reality.

We trusted in God, asked for His help then stepped out in faith. With God we can do all things!

Please keep Hayley in your prayers as she continues as Steps to Life's Bible Worker.

Please contact Cherryl by phone on 03 9739 4093 or by email on admin@steps.org.au if you would like to contribute funds for resourcing Hayley's work as the Steps to Life Bible Worker.